Diva Night discusses performing arts and alpacas

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By JESSICA COHEN

poconorecord.com

By JESSICA COHEN

Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 3:56 PM

By JESSICA COHEN

Posted Jun. 28, 2013 at 3:56 PM

» Social News

Dismay colored the early conversation among women gathered at the Patisserie in Milford for the monthly Diva Night, an opportunity for women and occasional male guests to schmooze and dine. That evening they were honoring Lisa Reitman-Dobi for her community contributions since she moved to Dingmans Ferry from New York in September. She had held fundraisers and otherwise supported groups such as the Upper Delaware GLBT Center, according to Amy Ferris, who initiated Diva Night with Laura Badea and Sean Strub.

The first discussion was about the moment Reitman-Dobi objected and walked out of Wigsticks, a UDGLBT benefit, when she heard the pre-show auctioneer, Shay Neary, as female impersonator Shay Butta, say, "That's so Jewish," when the audience failed to raise their bids. Neary later claimed she had said, "That's so stingy."

People walked out not because of the comment, but because of her defiant response to Reitman-Dobi's objection, said Ferris, who also attended the show. "It's important to say you're sorry," said Ferris.

"The point is, you made them aware," said photographer Norma Bernstock.

"People who are educated and sophisticated stand up," said Reitman-Dobi.

Attention then turned to a new community performing arts venture in Milford called Passing the Hat, begun by Ruby Willis and Reitman-Dobi, in the last few months.

"I just wanted spoken word performances in walking distance," said Willis, who had recently returned to Milford from visiting a friend in Tasmania.

But the venture is inclusive. "We want to bring together as many artists and forms of art as we can," she said. "Like salad."

Speaking of which, they were eating a delicate salad in which Patricia Kett identified wintergreen, parsley, spinach and cashews.

"Try to pick up cashews with your fork and you may fail," noted Reitman-Dobi.

The next Passing the Hat event, on July 13, will focus on storytelling, said Willis, time and location yet to be determined. For details, she advised looking at the Passing the Hat Facebook page. She also advocates having a "poem-in-your-pocket day," when merchants give discounts to people carrying poems or who recite one.

As the topic of failed artist groups in Milford arose, Willis said, "The beauty of Milford is how many people keep trying. I love Milford so much, I want to use two exclamation points — and I'm a copy editor."

She also described her vision for a nonprofit organization in which people isolated by disabilities are joined by technology in complementary ways.

Animals in difficult situations had their moment, too. "This lady has alpacas!" Reitman-Dobi called out, as Nancy Davis-Kessler walked in.

Davis-Kessler, a social worker, explained how she and her husband managed to accommodate three alpacas rescued from a hoarding situation on their two acres in Deer Park. And Reitman-Dobi showed photos of her two little white dogs, rescued by big guys in shirts printed with the words, "Abusers Are Losers."